Characteristics of Surface Deformation and Fragmentation of Droplets of High-Viscosity Liquids Moving in a Gaseous Medium

The results of experimental and theoretical studies of the characteristics of surface deformation and fragmentation of droplets of high-viscosity liquids (glycerol and melted Al₂O₃) moving in a gaseous medium are presented. Typical shapes of droplets, modes, and cycles of surface deformation, cycle durations and the amplitude have been established. Minimum relative velocities of the movement of droplets have been determined leading to fragmentation of droplets of high-viscosity liquids (glycerol and melted Al₂O₃). The influence of a group of factors on the characteristics of deformation of droplets has been established: flow velocity (0–100 m/s) and initial sizes of droplets (1–5 mm). Satisfactory agreement between experimental data and the results of theoretical calculations for high-viscosity liquids (using the example of glycerol droplets) was obtained.